Corbett · Glen Coe
Beinn Trilleachan
Beinn Trilleachan rises above the head of Loch Etive, its 840m summit overshadowed in mountaineering folklore by what's underneath: the Etive Slabs, the longest sustained granite slab in Scotland and a Mecca for rock climbers since the 1950s. The walking ascent from the loch-side road gives a fine short day, climbing onto a broad ridge with views back across Loch Etive to Buachaille Etive Mòr and the Glen Coe peaks. The hill's name means 'mountain of the oystercatchers' — the sandy shore of the loch below was once a sea-bird haunt.
Quick facts
- Height
- 840m/ 2756ft
- Prominence
- 478 m
- Distance
- 9 km
- Ascent
- 870 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN086439
- Parking
- NN112458
- Nearest city
- Oban· 26km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
loch-side path 15% · steep grass 40% · heather hillside 30% · summit area 15%
From the small parking area at the head of Loch Etive (the road end past Coileitir), follow the lochside track south-west for around 1km. Leave the track and climb steeply north-west up grass and rock onto the south-east ridge of Beinn Trilleachan. The route gains height quickly and reaches the broad summit ridge, with a short walk west to the cairn. Allow 5–6 hours. The climber's start for the Slabs is from the same parking area but heads directly up the loch shore.
Terrain
Lochside track for the first kilometre. Above that, the ascent is steep grass with rock outcrops and a few short scrambly steps. The slabs themselves are clearly visible to the south but are climber's terrain — walkers should stay north of them. The summit ridge is broad and grassy with a clear cairn.
In winter
In winter the south-east ridge gives a steep snow ascent in good conditions. The Etive Slabs become unclimbable until well into spring; for walkers this is not relevant but the iced slabs are an impressive sight from the ridge above. The Glen Etive road can be slow and is sometimes closed by snowfall.
This hill is in the Glen Coe SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 59m
- Edinburgh3h 54m
OS maps: OS Landranger 50
Mobile signal: No usable signal anywhere in upper Glen Etive — Loch Etive is a recognised mobile blackspot
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:54
- Sunset
- 21:59
- Civil dawn
- 03:57
- Civil dusk
- 22:56
NOAA Solar Calculator · 17 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn Trilleachan.
Around Beinn Trilleachan on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Loch Awe station
East shore Loch Awe; Ben Cruachan; Kilchurn Castle
17km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
27km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
27km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Beinn Trilleachan — common questions
- What difficulty is Beinn Trilleachan?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn Trilleachan comes in at 3/5 — moderately challenging. Expect roughly 9km and 870m of ascent on the usual route — 3-5 hours for most parties. Terrain: Lochside track for the first kilometre.
- How prominent is Beinn Trilleachan?
- Beinn Trilleachan has 478m of topographic prominence — the height of its summit above the highest col connecting it to higher ground.
- Where should I park to climb Beinn Trilleachan?
- Standard parking is at NN112458. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When should I climb Beinn Trilleachan?
- The standard good-weather months for Beinn Trilleachan are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Beinn Trilleachan?
- On a lead only — the route crosses ground with livestock or nesting-bird interest.
- What's mobile reception like on Beinn Trilleachan?
- No usable signal anywhere in upper Glen Etive — Loch Etive is a recognised mobile blackspot
- Is Beinn Trilleachan safe in winter?
- In winter the south-east ridge gives a steep snow ascent in good conditions. The Etive Slabs become unclimbable until well into spring; for walkers this is not relevant but the iced slabs are an impressive sight from the ridge above. The Glen Etive road can be slow and is sometimes closed by snowfall.
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